6 February 2003 Daily Star
Staff Correspondent
Jumma 'refugees' in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have demanded immediate
steps for 'proper rehabilitation' and return of their land from 'encroachers'.
They have suffered for long as refugees and still they are living in 'extreme insecurity and uncertainty,' they said and demanded an end to this.
The demands were made by the Chitagong Hill Tracts Repatriated Jumma Refugees' Welfare Association at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
"We had signed a 20-point accord with the then government in 1997 and following this, 12,222 families returned to the country from across the border. But the government is yet to rehabilitate us properly. This is inhuman and undemocratic," President of the association Probhakar Chakma said.
Association leaders alleged that settlers (Bangalees who had settled in the
CHT after 1971) backed by a section of security personnel frequently attacked
the refugees.
The government has not yet formed a task force to monitor implementation of
the '20-point accord' and for this rehabilitation of Jumma refugees has come
to a halt, they said.
"We had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on March 4
last year, demanding immediate implementation of our demands. These include
adequate ration, TK 10,000 to buy bulls, loan facilities, funds for repair of
temple, jobs in police force, army, ansar, VDP and appointment of a tribal as
chairman of the CHT development board", one leader added.
General Secretary of the association Santoshita Chakma Bakul read out a statement at the press conference while Vice Chairman Hemendra Tripura, Prafulla Kumar Chakma and Safru Marma were present.